Westcott, Bucks

Further recent arrivals for the 2022 garden moth list have included Spectacle (19th), V-Pug (20th), Cnephasia sp, Eudonia angustea, Green Carpet, Turnip Moth & Flame Shoulder (all 22nd), Common Pug & Pebble Prominent (both 23rd), Scrobipalpa acuminatella & Knot Grass (both 24th), Parornix sp (26th), Treble Lines (27th) and White Ermine (28th).  The Cnephasia and Parornix await determination by dissection but the first appearances here are usually of communana and anglicella respectively.

Cnephasia sp., Westcott 22nd April

Green Carpet, Westcott 22nd April

Pebble Prominent, Westcott 23rd April

White Ermine, Westcott 28th April

They take the garden list well past 100 species for the year, a figure usually achieved during the third or fourth week of April so nothing unusual there.  Last year's poor Spring weather meant that this milestone wasn't reached until 12th May so we really shouldn't complain about the recent run of chilly nights - it could have been far worse!  For the past week I've had anywhere between 10 and 15 species per night with Powdered Quaker and Hebrew Character still in the lead, but they will be starting to tail off now as Treble Lines ramps up in numbers.  Diversity should improve as we get into May.

A species worth highlighting for its better-than-usual numbers this year is Brindled Beauty.  Up until 2018 the average total here was one per season and there were a few years (2005/09/13/15) when it didn't appear at all.  Since then numbers have crept upwards with 16 visiting the trap last year and 20 so far this year, with the last one only three nights ago so that total might still be added to.  Tawny Pinion is also worth a mention after last night's trapping session brought in the third one here so far this year.  I get few sightings of this moth in the garden and it can go several years with none appearing at all.  Those records that I have had are also weighted heavily towards the Autumn rather than post-hibernation in the Spring.

Dave Wilton Westcott, Bucks